Neck wrinkles and sagging skin are common signs of aging, often caused by a combination of collagen loss, sun exposure, and repetitive movements. Since the skin on the neck is thinner and produces less oil than the face, it can be more prone to dryness and wrinkling over time. However, there are steps you can take to help smooth out these signs of aging. From skincare techniques and posture adjustments to advanced beauty treatments and at-home devices, maintaining a youthful, firm neck is possible with the right approach.
Mary, a skincare expert who has over 28K YouTube subscribers, recently shared her go-to methods to smoothing out wrinkles on the neck and lift sagging skin. According to her, skincare down to your neck, proper posture, beauty devices and treatments, and hydration are key to “maintain a firm, wrinkle-free neck for years!” Read on to learn more.
1. Skincare
Using moisturizers, serums, and sunscreen on this area helps maintain collagen levels, improve elasticity, and prevent premature aging caused by sun exposure and dehydration. Mary says sunscreen is one of the most important skincare steps when it comes to an aging neck. "You should be using it every day if you care about the long-term condition of your skin; if you don't do this, your skin will get wrinkly, and there is no point in bothering with anything else."
Another crucial step is retinoid. "These vitamin A derivatives are the gold standard for aging; they stimulate collagen production, and they improve cell turnover, so they come in varying strengths, and I would say go with the strongest one your skin will tolerate. Now this applies to those of us of a certain age; if you're in your 20s or even your early 30s, I wouldn't bother; your skin is probably fabulous. I personally use a retinal, which is the strongest retinoid you can get with the fewest conversions to retinoic acid without a prescription."
Another skincare ingredient she swears by are antioxidants. "The most common out there, of course, is vitamin C, but there are many other antioxidants like vitamin E, ferulic acid, and resveratrol, green tea extract, niacinamide—whichever one you choose, it is really important to have antioxidants in your routine; it will make a difference. Then there are peptides. I love peptides; they're like little messengers that tell skin cells what to do, such as produce more collagen, repair damage, or improve skin texture. Look for ceramides; they strengthen our skin barrier, improve hydration, soothe, repair the skin, and they work synergistically with just about every other ingredient."
2. Posture
Poor posture, especially looking down at screens (often called "tech neck"), creates repetitive folds in the skin, leading to fine lines and deep wrinkles over time. Maintaining good posture—keeping your head aligned with your spine and shoulders back—helps minimize these creases and prevents premature aging in the neck area.
Mary says the "constant downward movement is wreaking havoc and can create some very serious horizontal lines. So the very first thing I did was elevate my computer. The optimum height for our screen for good posture is eye level. When you're sitting upright, the top of your screen should be at or slightly below your eye level. Not only is this great for wrinkles, but it reduces the strain on our neck, our shoulders, and even your eyes. That constant downward motion can take its toll on your eyes too." She adds, "Making this one minor change has significantly impacted my overall posture."
We can't forget cellphones, as Mary says these have become a real challenge. "It's estimated that 70 to 90% of us naturally look down when we use our phone. I've trained myself to hold my phone higher than I'm naturally inclined to."
3. Beauty devices
Treatments like microneedling, laser therapy, and radiofrequency stimulate collagen and tighten loose skin, helping to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Beauty devices, such as LED light therapy wands, microcurrent tools, and ultrasonic massagers, enhance circulation and promote skin rejuvenation.
She reveals that “there is one that I believe has had the biggest impact on the condition of my neck, and that's red light therapy.” Her next go-to treatment is "medical microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy. It uses tiny sterilized needles that go into the dermis to create controlled injuries. They then trigger our body's natural healing response, which leads to collagen and elastin production, and let me tell you, about 3 to 4 weeks after a treatment, my skin is glowing; it is plump; it is beautiful."
Another recommendation is a sticky silicone mask. "This works by creating an occlusive barrier that locks in moisture, it flattens out wrinkles, and it plumps the skin overnight."
4. Hydration
Dehydration can contribute to neck wrinkles by reducing the skin's ability to retain moisture, making it appear dry, tight, and less plump.
"Dehydration plays a major role in the formation and appearance of wrinkles. When the skin lacks sufficient moisture, it becomes less plump, more fragile, and prone to creasing. So while dehydration itself doesn't cause deep-set wrinkles, it can make the fine lines look worse, more pronounced, and also accelerate the skin's aging process because water plays a key role in maintaining skin volume and elasticity."
She continues, "A dehydrated skin barrier can't retain moisture properly, and it also makes it more vulnerable to environmental damage. Look for ingredients like glycerin, which is my favorite, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, and urea, to name a few. The other thing you can do, and you may not want to hear this, is avoid hot showers; it damages the skin barrier, which leads to dehydration." Noted!
"Another little helper for dehydration is a humidifier. It adds moisture to the air, which prevents the skin from drying out, and it also helps retain natural oils that keep the skin barrier strong."
One last tip she wants everyone to practice is to always have a bottle of water with you to ensure maximum hydration!
